About Your Guinea Pig

Looking at a guinea pig, it’s hard to resist the sweet temptation to place him on your hands and cuddle him. As for guinea pigs that’ve just been transferred to a new home, the first 3-4 days is rough, and the unfamiliarity of the new surrounding seems a little threatening to them.

Don’t scare them off! Give them time to breathe and get used to the new guinea pig’s home. Just like humans, animals feel stressed, too, and this situation gives them that feeling. Tone down noises inside the house and keep people from constantly hovering over their cages. It’s just like being the new kid in school; the first thing the new kid does is observe and keep note of patterns in the way people behave. Your guinea pig is that new student.

Note:

Make sure that it’s container is large enough so as to provide them with their own personal spaces where they can hide, rest and do their own thing.

Don’t be a Vulture

It’s good to keep track of what your pet is up to, but keep it at a minimum otherwise you’ll have them crap in fear. Looming over your pet incessantly makes him think of you as an aerial predator ready to strike in seconds. This domineering stance will leave a negative impression on your guinea pig. If you can’t get over the itch of watching them play, then do so by kneeling down and view the cage at eye level.

Bribery: Legalized According to Guinea Pig Law

Bribing is the best way you can get your little friend to put his trust in you. And trust is certainly something you can’t just have, but must earn.

Ask yourself, “What do they eat?” The answers to that are the wicked secrets to winning your guinea pigs’ heart. Because these animals have the one of the most diverse food menu, running out of fresh bribing tools will not be a problem.

Bribe Me if You Can

Let the bribing commence! Or should we say feast. Begin by presenting your pet with a yummy treat. After that, open the cage door and then place the treat near it. With your hands on your lap, patiently wait for the guinea pig to make their exit towards the meal. Your pet will not immediately get the deal so if the worst comes and he doesn’t take interest in the treat, pick the food up and close the cage door. Leave the guinea pig be. Try the same pattern again and again until he understands that he must come out of the cage to earn his rightful reward.

Don’t put the animal in so much stress by rushing the learning process. Take things one step at a time. Once he makes a move to come out, scoot a little close to the cage. Allow him to slowly get comfortable around you.

Initially, your little friend will come off as shy, but will take the guinea pig snacks anyway. Extra patience is required to perfect its training. Eventually he will get rid of his fears and finally welcome your presence in his life.

Cuddle me!

Trust is a sensitive thing. And true enough it is not to be taken for granted. Do not destroy it by simply tempting the guinea pig with treats if you just want to pick him up because once the trust has been tarnished, redeeming yourself might prove to be really hard. The most efficient way to picking a guinea pig up is by petting it and continuously showing some good lovin’ feeling. Dismiss the owner-pet view of things. Instead treat this relationship as something similar to that of best friends.

Proper handling

Picking your pet up will require precision and care. Because of their size, grasping them a tad bit too hard might damage their internal organs. To handle your pet, gently cup its belly, and support its hind as you lift it up. Remember not to grip his torso too tightly. Make it seem as if you’re holding a delicate little baby who could easily break at the slightest handling error. It’s imperative that little kids be assisted if they handle them. One fall could lead to serious bone injury.

Soothe Your Pet’s Senses

Pet owners absolutely love cuddling their furry bundles of joy. Owners like the feeling of attachment when they run their hands on the pets’ backs. But guinea pigs, being the fragile little fur balls that they are, might need some proper skill. Always remember to keep the guinea pig in a quiet area, and prepare guinea treats if you want to interact. After some time he will enjoy being handled as much as you love handling it, and don’t be surprised if one day he might actually ask you to handle him by simple making squealing guinea pig sounds in your presence.

For more great information, visit; http://aboutyourguineapig.blogspot.ca/p/guinea-pig-health-101.html